Technicum Cantonal Chronograph Pocket Watch
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
Circa 1930-1940
This keyless-winding pocket watch was produced by the Technicum Cantonal, Ecole d'Horlogerie in Bienne/Biel, Switzerland, circa 1930-1940. Housed in a round-shaped stainless steel case with a snap-on case-back, the watch measures 47.9 mm in diameter.
It features a manual-winding movement with a lever escapement, built upon an Omega 39 CHRO ebauche dating between 1926 and 1944. The timepiece includes a 1/5 second chronograph, operated by a single round push-piece integrated into the winding-crown, and a dragging 30-minute recorder displayed on a subsidiary dial at 12 o'clock. A second subsidiary dial for continuous running seconds is positioned at 6 o'clock. and reflects the horological output associated with the Bienne/Biel horological school curriculum during the early 20th century, documented in the reference work by Estelle Fallet and Antoine Simonin.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Technical characteristics
- Date
- Circa 1930-1940
- Type
- Chronograph & split-seconds watch
- Maker
- Ecole d'Horlogerie
- Diameter
- 47.9 mm
- Movement
- 17-jewel lever escapement
- Case Material
- Stainless steel
- Place recorded
- Switzerland
- Maker / attribution
- Ecole d'Horlogerie
- Chronograph function
- 1/5 second with 30-minute recorder
- Movement Serial Number
- 9 115 583
Design
- Visible features
- • Round-shaped stainless steel case with snap-on case back • Single round push-piece chronograph actuator integrated into crown • Subsidiary dial for 30-minute recorder at 12 o'clock • Subsidiary dial for seconds at 6 o'clock
- Movement and Escapement
- The movement is identified as a 17-jewel configuration utilizing a lever escapement. The technical construction is based on the 39 CHRO ebauche, which was manufactured by Omega in Bienne/Biel. This specific ebauche production is dated between 1926 and 1944. The movement is marked with serial number 9 115 583. As a horological school piece, the movement utilizes a platform established by commercial manufacturers of the era.
- Case and Dial Construction
- The pocket watch is presented in a round-shaped stainless steel case featuring a snap-on case-back. Measuring 47.9 mm in diameter, the case design prioritizes utility, consistent with pieces intended for technical or horological education. The crown incorporates a single round push-piece used to control the integrated chronograph functions, allowing the user to start, stop, and reset the 1/5 second mechanism. The dial is arranged with the Technicum Cantonal markings and includes two distinct subsidiary registers. A 30-minute recording dial is located at the 12 o’clock position, while the running seconds are indicated at the 6 o'clock position.
- Provenance and Documentation
- The watch is attributed to the Technicum Cantonal, Ecole d’Horlogerie in Bienne/Biel. This institution provided professional training in watchmaking, and its student projects often utilized ebauches from local manufacturers like Omega. The identification of this specific watch is supported by bibliographic reference. The piece is listed in the book 'Dix écoles d’horlogerie suisses, chefs-d’oeuvre de savoir-faire' by Estelle Fallet and Antoine Simonin. This publication documents the history and production of Swiss horological schools, situating this timepiece within the academic and technical output of the Bienne/Biel school during the 1930s and 1940s.
Identification
- Serial number
- 9 115 583
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked source listing or collection record. Attribution and specifications are source-reported and have not been independently authenticated.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: Condition report notes overhaul recommended at buyer's expense
- Research required: Movement based on an Omega ebauche, not an original school-manufactured calibre